Safeguarding your mental health during a pandemic

As a mental health advocate, Wariimi Karingi is at the forefront of driving the conversation around mental health in Kenya. She shares a little about her journey as well as coping mechanisms that can help those struggling with anxiety and depression during the current COVID 19 pandemic.

Please share a little about yourself, your mental health journey and what you do…

My name is Wariimi (Pron: Wa- ri- éme) Karingi, Founder and CEO of Let’s Go Mental Kenya. I set up the organisation in 2018 after I realised that my mental health had affected my ability to hold a job or run a business. I also felt quite convicted to start creating awareness and by this I could save a lot of lives. In a nutshell, I can say my purpose was borne out of the pain and loss I had experienced and still continue to experience. 

My journey began in June of 2015 when I collapsed while at work and had to be rushed to hospital. I was in and out of hospital for about two months after which a neurologist diagnosed me with Depression and Anxiety disorder. I did not accept the diagnosis and sought a third and fourth diagnosis which were all the same and that’s when I was put on medication which I am still on till today.


You ran LetsGoMental.ke, have you seen a rise in people reaching out to you during the the pandemic? What is the most common issue you are seeing people facing?  

There has definitely been an increase in the number of people reaching out for help, most of them experiencing high levels of anxiety which triggers anxiety attacks/panic attacks. I need to point out that anxiety can develop into an anxiety disorder which is a mental illness.

The difference between anxiety and anxiety disorder is that the anxious feeling one gets, say before an exam or presentation goes away after the exam, but with anxiety disorder the feeling stays with the person all day and night.

Symptoms of anxiety disorder are, heart palpitations, trembling, sweating, hyperventilating, feeling nervous or tense, weak/tired and having trouble concentrating. Someone experiencing these symptoms needs to seek professional help.

Another common challenge I have found is people living with depression are getting into depressive phases due to fear of contracting COVID19, the confusion, social isolation, loss of jobs and income that have come with the pandemic.

What are some of the common symptoms of depression?

I would first like to say that depression is a mental illness and not a feeling, It is an illness that is characterised by persistent low moods and loss of interest in activities. Some of the symptoms are feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness, loss/increase in appetite, excessive crying, irritability, fatigue, insomnia/hyposomnia, lack of concentration and social isolation. Depression is also associated with suicide and such cases need to be treated as an emergency.

What would you say are the risk factors for those dealing with mental illness during this time?

I could say that if people do not get the right treatment and support during this period it could lead to an increase in suicide cases. If you have a family member of friend struggling with a mental illness, it is important to provide them the right support. The right support can be checking up on them regularly, helping them track their moods, visiting them at home of course while still practising social distancing.

As someone who has battled depression and anxiety disorder, what coping mechanisms do you use to stay healthy during this time?

Some of the coping strategies I have used are;

  • Creating a daily routine
  • Eating healthy 
  • Staying hydrated
  • Working out regularly
  • Reduced my intake of all the Covid news flying around. 
  • Journaling and keeping track of my moods
  • Being kind to myself
  • Staying in touch with family and friends via technology
  • Learning a new skill

How does one balance staying informed and limiting information overload  during this time?

I must say this can be difficult in this social media era, with news and information reaching us every second, however what has worked for me is;

  • Reducing news intake by getting my news from reliable sources like the CDC website only. 
  • Limiting my screen time
  • Muting groups that have too much news on COVID 19
  • Asked my family and friends to avoid sending me any unconfirmed news

What tips and advice would you give those whose mental health is suffering during this time?

I would like people to know that they are not alone and reaching out for help is the best thing they can do for themselves. Reaching out for help is not a sign of weakness, it is actually a sign of strength. To those who do not have any mental illnesses, remember it is very important to take care of your mental health because anyone can develop a mental illness.

For more you can check out and subscribe to Wariimi’s YouTube channel:

Follow LetsGoMental.ke on Instagram: @letsgomentalke

Interview by Naliaka Wafula

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